A man has been arrested on suspicion of spying and preparing a terrorist attack against a British military base in Cyprus.
The suspect, who is reportedly from Azerbaijan, is believed to have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He is thought to have been conducting surveillance on the RAF base in Akrotiri — the UK’s largest military installation outside Britain — which plays a key role in supporting ongoing operations in the Middle East.
Aircraft deployed at the base include Eurofighter Typhoons, previously used in missions against ISIS and the Houthis, as well as Puma helicopters, Voyager tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling, and the reconnaissance Shadow R1. Griffin helicopters used in search and rescue operations are also stationed there.
According to the Greek Cypriot news outlet ANT1, the suspect was also allegedly spying on Cyprus’ own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos. Surveillance activity is believed to have started in mid-April.
He was reportedly arrested by police in the Zakaki suburb of Limassol, a coastal city in southern Cyprus. A district court has since ordered his detention for eight days while investigations continue.
Cypriot police have declined to provide further details, citing national security concerns.
Terror-related incidents are extremely rare on the island. However, Cyprus’s proximity to the Middle East and its position as a strategic transit hub have gained renewed attention in recent weeks, particularly as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran. The island has been used as a staging point for people travelling to or fleeing from the region during the ongoing conflict.
